The Delaware ledger. (Newark, Del.) 1879-19??, 1887-01-22

not imagine"
By this time my eyes were fixed
upon the contents of the casket both
with wonder and admiration.
The gems, mostly upset, were very
very beautiful, some ofa kind that |
never seen before. OF course there
were pearls, diamonds, emeralds,
rubies, cat's-eyes-in fact, all kinds
of wonderful and beautiful gems.
But placed in the centre of these
was one on crystal pedestal, as it
were-a stone / had never seen be-
fore. | do not know how to de-
scribe it. At first sight it appeared
like piece of dark-colored crystal
but as the colonel turned the casket
about, this peculiar gem shot forth
flames of lurid light which seemed
to me almost ghastly and devilish.
'What do you call that stone ?" |
demanded
"Do you not like it?" inquired
the colonel, with a laugh, and yet
with strange look in his face.
"Well, l can't say do much," l
replied "butit is very beautiful
strangely So"
Gay, strangely so indeed| he
said, as he took up the stone, which
was set in a plain gold ring. "The
natives call that stone a black dia-
mond."
"a black diamondl | never heard
of such stone before. And yet it
does look black"
"Now, here in England we call our
Goals so; and they are more useful
than these gems, and bring comfort
with them-certainly far more than
this one, if the legion about it be
true and l have good reason to be-
lieve that there is something in it.
But l will not believe
And as he spoke, the colonel has
tily closed the casket, replaced it.
and securely fastened the safe, which
appeared to have a hundred little
springs about it.
"There," he said, when all wai
completely secured, and the key
safely placed in his pocket. "Nov
what is your opinion of the case?"
"At present cannot say. Whom
! do you suspect ?"
} "Noone."
"Who knows about these jewels !?
"No one but my wife. of cours
she knows. But she even does no
know the secret of the casket ant
safe being opened"
"You mean that had she the Ike.
= she could not open the safe? ?"
!, Certainly not. But surely yor
u do not think thatshe did, she woul
> come here and pry into my secret
: and rob me.
"Most certainly not" ! replied
; although | did not think what
u said
OF course not-of course not, Il
Il said, in hurried tones. These rol
berries have made her quite ill.
. have sat by her side and talked tn
}. matter over for hours, and she urge
Il me to find out the thieves. II
poor girl has taken it quite to hcal
But there goes the bell for dressii
for dinner. | have not time to tc
- - you the story of this precious ston
u Sometimes | almost feel inclined
throw it away. But l will tC
. you all another time. Now we mu
hurry away to dress.
Z, Was | mistaken or was II,
III when fancied that | heard a ligl
" footstep, like that of Il woman, gli'
away from the door?
" was not certain, and thereto
80 hurried to the door, which it appea
ed the Colonel had unwittingly left
- little ajar. threw itwide open, b
y there was no one in the corridor.
q, "Why, what is the matter, NJ
/. Gerval?n asked the Colonel,
no some surprise.
~ "Pardon me, Colonel, but | fan'
Q ed / heard some one at the door
81 don't think that is likely"
Ia said, with a laugh, although Il
- servants all declare that this wing
:. the house is haunted and there
some old legend to that effect. Ho
Is ever, they all keep clearof the plaC
or can assure you, and as l like to
fe quiet in my study, | rather c
courage them in the idea. Con
Of now, we must hurry to dress or '
Nv shall be late to dinner. My wife
A l will relate to you the story of t
y Black Diamond after dinner"
d. "Stayw said. "Do not tell yo
at wife who am, or that I-know an
so thing about these jewels but if y
&C. can manage it, get her to relate t
hn Story to some one after dinner. ]